Entertainment · Music · 1 hr ago
Bands Give Surprise Concert on Southwest Flight Before US Ground Stop
Four bands performed on a Southwest flight from Los Angeles to Orlando on Friday, giving passengers an unexpected concert in the aisles.
The flight left before the FAA ordered a nationwide stop on departing flights, which disrupted travel across the country.
The musicians were headed to Orlando for the final stop of the 2026 Vans Warped Tour, scheduled for November 14 and 15.
Southwest’s Live at 35 program brings surprise concerts to passengers during flights.
The ground stop contributed to thousands of cancellations and left some festival bands scrambling to reach Orlando.
Warped Tour organizers changed set times and said some bands might cancel, while others were trying to travel by road.
Simple Plan, Hoobastank, The Used and LØLØ performed for passengers aboard a Southwest flight from Los Angeles to Orlando.
The artists were travelling to the Vans Warped Tour’s Orlando dates on Nov. 14 and 15.
The flight departed around 11 a.m. on Nov. 13, about two hours before the FAA issued a nationwide ground stop, according to Variety.
Passengers sang along as the musicians performed songs including Hoobastank’s “The Reason” and Simple Plan’s “Perfect.”
The ground stop led to more than 12,000 flight cancellations, according to Billboard and Exame.
- Who
- Simple Plan, Hoobastank, The Used and LØLØ performed for passengers.
- What
- They gave an impromptu concert aboard a Southwest Airlines flight.
- When
- Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.
- Where
- On a flight from Los Angeles to Orlando, Florida.
- Why
- The artists were travelling to perform at the Vans Warped Tour in Orlando.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Southwest flight departed Los Angeles for Orlando with the musicians aboard, according to Variety.
The FAA issued a nationwide ground stop for departing flights.
The ground stop was lifted, according to Variety.
The Vans Warped Tour’s Orlando stop was scheduled to take place at Camping World Stadium.
- Airline
- Southwest Airlines
- Route
- Los Angeles to Orlando, Florida
- Artists
- Simple Plan, Hoobastank, The Used and LØLØ
- Ground stop
- Issued by the FAA on Nov. 13
- Cancellations
- More than 12,000, according to Billboard and Exame
- Festival dates
- Nov. 14-15 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando
5 sources
Inside the Plane Where Simple Plan, Hoobastank and More Performed Mid-Flight as Planes Were Grounded Across the U.S.
Hoobastank, Simple Plan and More Bands Performed Mid-Flight During Nationwide Air Travel Ground Stop
Simple Plan, Hoobastank & More Take Warped Tour Mid-Flight Amid FAA Ground Stop
Simple Plan, Hoobastank, and The Used Turn Southwest Flight into In-Air Concert
Simple Plan e outras bandas fazem show improvisado em avião durante caos aéreo nos EUA
What people are saying
Every plane was grounded today, but the emo gods made sure this one flew.
We will have a few bands canceling and we will be updating you on that
Not as many as we thought, because the bands are working hard to change their flights.
We’re going to push some bands that were playing today, [they] will be playing on Sunday.